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A photograph of a Polish child at a “Dom Dziecka” (the Polish words for children’s home or orphanage) I received in April of 2005 started my journey towards an international missions trip to build a new playground for needy kids in that country. Having …

Abacus Ace Surfaces NA, Inc.     800-678-9223 www.reboundace.com   Adpro 440-542-1800   Advanced Ground Care 708-331-6100   Advanced Surfacing Technology, Inc. 512-833-8000     www.advanced-surfacing.com   American Bark 360-254-0794       American …

There are so many things to consider when choosing a surface for your play space. You have to consider the location, and with that, what type of surfacing will weather the best if you are in an area of extreme temperatures. Idaho, for example, can have …

In 1990 California passed legislation known as Senate Bill 2733 to require the development of playground regulations.  SB 2733 required the California Department of Health Services to consult with various public agencies including the California Park & …

Few things are more frustrating to today’s playground professional than vandalism to the public spaces they are responsible for maintaining.  It negatively affects staff, budgets, and even public safety. Commonly vandalism takes the form of graffiti, turf …

Remember the children's game "kick the can"? Boy, I do. Nightlife in my neighborhood included this and other games we kids played only after the sun went down. We'd start at dusk and not quit till Terrie or David's mom hollered for us to come in for the …

“The marginalized child in my classroom is a snob,” reports Ms. Jones, a third-grade teacher. “No one wants to be around her.  She’s rude and uncaring. I know the school counselor said she was a lonely child, but, my goodness, she deserves to be. She’s …

The technical aspects of playground surfacing start with the CPSC Handbook for Public Playground Safety. “Because head impact injuries from a fall have the potential for being life-threatening, the more shock-absorbing a surface can be made, the greater …

Creating original theme ideas for your community park is a good way to offer play equipment and play areas that invigorate and excite your community. Whether you are designing a traditional park setting, a play structure, spray park, or water park, …

Can it really be that the phrase “Tag, you’re it!” is a thing of the past? I was sure I heard that wrong when listening to the news recently. Imagine my shock at hearing that a school in Massachusetts banned the game most of us grew up playing in one form …

­If you are interested in creating a sound garden for your school or neighborhood park, there are different resources out there to help with equipment selection as well as funding. Check with your local department of cultural affairs. In New York City, …

They are happening around the nation and are music to your play. Sound gardens, or sound playgrounds, are chiming in and bringing a whole new dimension to play. Bill and Mary Buchen have collaborated in the creation of these innovative playgrounds that …

If you take a look around you today at all the relief efforts going on, you’ll find many organizations out there lending a hand for the greater good. This is happening in the Gulf Coast Region and in our own backyards and ranges from building homes to …

You may have heard this question asked: “Why does it matter what size structure my child plays on? Isn’t that how they develop?” Sure, it is, but imagine hanging your two-year-old on an overhead ladder structure and saying, “Ok, Jimmy, climb across and …

“I saw Mr. Fussler use his Board of Education,” boasts eight-year-old David, as he returns from taking the attendance sheets to the school office. “Freddie was in there screamin’ and cryin’ as he got his licks. And Mr. Fussler told Freddie that if he …

After the installation crew has completed constructing the play equipment and playground surfacing, there remains the task of checking the work that has been completed. The installation crew should have left a clean, undamaged job site. The installation …

The word green has taken on a whole new meaning in our society. Not that it was ever unfriendly, but it certainly has become a friendly term in a lot of respects. We hear of things “going green.” That can mean everything from recycling to environmental …

­Summer keeps heating up. July 2006 was recorded as the second hottest summer for the United States. In fact, overall, January through July of 2006 was the warmest seven months of any year since record-keeping began. More than 2300 temperature records …

I want to open up one of the great debates in the playground industry…safety. I’m doing this because of comments I receive, and I want to pose them to you, the reader. We know that it’s of the utmost importance to keep our children safe on the playground. …

Here are the basics an installer will encounter on an installation. After the size of the play area is determined, concrete borders are formed and poured. After the concrete dries, the forms are removed. Layout determines where upright posts that hold …